NPHC Greeks - how do you feel about this?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Exactly. And this just adds to the point I made earlier about the disrespect that's currently going on now among some of the non-NPHC orgs that are emulating our traditions.

I say "let it ride" unless there's a greater cultural significance beyond Greekdom that you're getting at.

In my 8 post-undergraduate years, I haven't encountered too many nonNPHCers who stroll and step. That's because I don't go to step shows that often and don't attend parties with strolling and where nonNPHCers frequent. As for calls, handsigns, and 'nalia practices, I'm generally disinterested in that issue because many nonNPHCers have put their own spin on this stuff and made these practices relevant to their organizations. Many of them also know/acknowledge where they got the basic idea from, within the Greek context, just like many NPHCers know/acknowledge where we got our ideas from.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by Ilaria Ame

who do you see as "them"? i've never witnessed a non-HBGLO step, stroll, call, etc in jest. in fact, the orgs i've seen have been very serious about what they're doing and would be insulted to be told that they're not. i'm not saying what you said doesn't happen, but i just can't imagine it.

This happens all the time...especially among some PW fraternities and I'm talking about mocking Black culture in general, not just that of Black greek orgs. Every campus environment is different. At some schools all the greeks respect one another and at others all kinds of disrespect takes place. At one of the PWIs I attended, we didn't socialize with the PW greeks at all because of the things that were taking place and the disrespect that was shown to us. If they wanted to learn how to step it would have only been because they thought is was funny or "cool," not because they truly wanted to learn the artform.

As for the bolded text, if you're serious about what you do and you don't show disrespect to NPHC orgs, than I'm not talking about those orgs.

[Ilaria Ame]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

This happens all the time...especially among some PW fraternities and I'm talking about mocking Black culture in general, not just that of Black greek orgs. Every campus environment is different. At some schools all the greeks respect one another and at others all kinds of disrespect takes place. At one of the PWIs I attended, we didn't socialize with the PW greeks at all because of the things that were taking place and the disrespect that was shown to us. If they wanted to learn how to step it would have only been because they thought is was funny or "cool," not because they truly wanted to learn the artform.

As for the bolded text, if you're serious about what you do and you don't show disrespect to NPHC orgs, than I'm not talking about those orgs.

oh, ok. like i said, it just blew my mind to think that this happens. that's sad sorry to show my ignorance, but what is a PW greek? i've never heard that term before.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by Ilaria Ame

oh, ok. like i said, it just blew my mind to think that this happens. that's sad sorry to show my ignorance, but what is a PW greek? i've never heard that term before.

PW is just my personal code for predominently White greek org or historically White greek org and PWI is for predominently White Institution. I have to add that at the 2nd PWI I went to, the disrespect problem did not exist although the PW and NPHC orgs had no relationship at all with one another. We didn't even socialize or really know one another. Some PWI's (and I said some) have a whole different set of problems and it doesn't matter if you're a greek or non-greek. And I think you know what kind of problems I'm refering to.

[Ilaria Ame]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

PW is just my personal code for predominently White greek org or historically White greek org and PWI is for predominently White Institution. I have to add that at the 2nd PWI I went to, the disrespect problem did not exist although the PW and NPHC orgs had no relationship at all with one another. We didn't even socialize or really know one another. Some PWI's (and I said some) have a whole different set of problems and it doesn't matter if you're a greek or non-greek. And I think you know what kind of problems I'm refering to.

ok. nice to know...for the record, i am a white girl on a predominately white campus in the deep south. i know the problems you refer to. i see them and deal with them every day in my job, where everyone hates eveyone else. in addition to that, greek life is completely split. seperate events all around. even greek week is only for NPC, NPHC isn't invited to participate. yeah. not kidding. all this is why me and my line sisters founded a chapter of a multicultural org this year. we are hoping to force a change in how greek life is run because we can't be categorized. of course, it could completely flop and we'll be hated by everyone instead of just half of everyone, but all we can do is present ourselves in the best way possible and hope for a miracle!

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by Ilaria Ame

ok. nice to know...for the record, i am a white girl on a predominately white campus in the deep south. i know the problems you refer to. i see them and deal with them every day in my job, where everyone hates eveyone else. in addition to that, greek life is completely split. seperate events all around. even greek week is only for NPC, NPHC isn't invited to participate. yeah. not kidding. all this is why me and my line sisters founded a chapter of a multicultural org this year. we are hoping to force a change in how greek life is run because we can't be categorized. of course, it could completely flop and we'll be hated by everyone instead of just half of everyone, but all we can do is present ourselves in the best way possible and hope for a miracle!

Congrats! I see you are a neo. Anyway good luck with what you and your chapter are trying to accomplish, especially in the deep south. I commend you for stepping up and trying to do things differently. I have no problems with the multicultural orgs, heck if you saw some of our chapters and didn't know they were NPHC, you might think we were a multicultural org. Anyway, one of our mantras is "dare to be different." Since we are the youngest and smallest of the sororities in the NPHC (although not young...founded in 1922 or small...85,000 members since inception), we have had to shout to be heard and work to broaden people's minds so we dared to be different in the beginning and we're still doing it now. Just don't give up! It ain't so bad being the underdogs (or in our case underpoodles...get it?...our mascot is the poodle...sorry, I couldn't resist that one ). In fact, it's one of the best decisions I ever made.

[BlueReign]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Congrats! I see you are a neo. Anyway good luck with what you and your chapter are trying to accomplish, especially in the deep south. I commend you for stepping up and trying to do things differently. I have no problems with the multicultural orgs, heck if you saw some of our chapters and didn't know they were NPHC, you might think we were a multicultural org. Anyway, one of our mantras is "dare to be different." Since we are the youngest and smallest of the sororities in the NPHC (although not young...founded in 1922 or small...85,000 members since inception), we have had to shout to be heard and work to broaden people's minds so we dared to be different in the beginning and we're still doing it now. Just don't give up! It ain't so bad being the underdogs (or in our case underpoodles...get it?...our mascot is the poodle...sorry, I couldn't resist that one ). In fact, it's one of the best decisions I ever made.

And I could quote you forever, Soror!

I like what you said and how you said it. This might be my new signature.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by BlueReign

And I could quote you forever, Soror!

I like what you said and how you said it. This might be my new signature.

Go ahead soror. I ain't mad at ya.

[Ilaria Ame]

thank you! it's good to know that even if we meet resistance on our particular campus, most greeks can respect what we're doing. i've gotten nothing but support from this forum and i really appreciate it!

[Tom Earp]

Add another + for Your Post!

If one wants to call it a cross over, they are morons.

That seems to be the problem isn't it?

You Feel What You Feel Best with and that is it!

Never feel bad about the GLO you join and for waht reasons, it is yours only!

People are ass wipes, not the GLO You belong to!

[IncontRHOllable]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

I really think people are putting 10 on 2 with this topic.

Main Entry: tra·di·tion
1 a : an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom) b : a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable <the bulk of traditions attributed to the Prophet -- J. L. Esposito>
2 : the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction
3 : cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions
4 : characteristic manner, method, or style <in the best liberal tradition>

From a larger context: Any practice that breeds recognition and has done so for years across the country will be called a "tradition" by many. Not everyone will agree on that and not everyone has to.

Smaller context: If people want to use the term "tradition" then that's what they will do. My chapter had traditional programs and practices that no other organization on that campus had. I remember when another organization tried to take ALL of our ideas and formatting and rename it without even speaking to us about a collaboration. This didn't sit too well with us and the program wasn't accepted by the campus community. That's fine if folks want to adopt and adapt CERTAIN traditions. Just KNOW where you got it from and don't front like you and your organization came up with it. That also goes to NPHC traditions that came from elsewhere.

Whooo say it say it say it!

[brownsugar952]

I have done a little research on the subject of stepping and I have read that Phi Beta Sigma started to step first. Wouldn't the other Greek Organizations in the Divine 9 technically be copying off of the Sigmas or because you all are in the same council, it's ok to do this?

Let say by a MIRACLE another organization was able to join NPHC. Would it be ok for them to step, have calls and handsigns since the are now apart of the council?

[neosoul]

Originally Posted by brownsugar952

I have done a little research on the subject of stepping and I have read that Phi Beta Sigma started to step first. Wouldn't the other Greek Organizations in the Divine 9 technically be copying off of the Sigmas or because you all are in the same council, it's ok to do this?

Let say by a MIRACLE another organization was able to join NPHC. Would it be ok for them to step, have calls and handsigns since the are now apart of the council?

LOL @ bolded

[raggann03]

Being a member of a service GLO longer than I have a NPHC this is something of an irritant to me. I find that most of the anger or ill feeling comes from a general lack of knowledge. Many of us (OPA) choose to use those terms because they most accurately state the feeling of the process we just underwent. To this day me and my omega phi alpha pledgemates(or whatever pc term you want to use) call each other line sister. It accurately describes the bond we feel with each other. We don't do it out of disrespect or anything....its just what it is. Unfortunately we aren't allowed the benefit of publicly displaying our pride in our organization, bond with each other without getting looks of contempt from uninformed D9 members.

And now that I'm a D9 member....I still call my Omega Phi Alpha sisters soror, line sister, etc(sands has never been applicable). I have jackets and para for both organizations that I display proudly. And yes there are some things that are unique to Sigma Gamma Rho that I will not duplicate for Omega Phi Alpha just because its all greek. I don't agree with that

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by brownsugar952

I have done a little research on the subject of stepping and I have read that Phi Beta Sigma started to step first. Wouldn't the other Greek Organizations in the Divine 9 technically be copying off of the Sigmas or because you all are in the same council, it's ok to do this?

Let say by a MIRACLE another organization was able to join NPHC. Would it be ok for them to step, have calls and handsigns since the are now apart of the council?

Through my reading and research, slaves who played the drums were not allowed to play African beats because they were a form of communication. As well as other instruments. All they had left was the stomping and clapping of their hands that was thought as gleeful dancing to the Master. As time moved on, African traditions were lost, and moves were eased and evolved.

After emancipation, formation of HBCU's and development of HBGLO's, during a pledge period, generally a cadence and movements that were similar to that of the Black Church movement.

As time went on, evolution became a grander scale as moves were precise through the 1970's and beyond.

Stepping is not the same as it was when I was in school in the late 1980's. Moreover, the cadences are different. The stepmaster was always the Dean of Pledges when I was in school. Now, we have Membership Intake Processes... So, things change. Oh well.

As far as non-NPHC organizations having all the items acquired because of the trials of a pledge period, well, hey, things change.